50 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



and subscribers. (T.oud applause.) The kte Joe Maiden, he might observe, 

 used to speak of Swynnerton as his Paradise. (Hear, hear !) 



Mr. Fitzherbert, in responding, said nothing gave him greater pleasure than 

 to see the foxhounds in any cover of his, and he hoped it would be long before 

 they had a blank day when they came to Swynnerton. (Applause.) 



The Earl of Shrewsbury proposed " The Tenant Farmers," to whose hearty 

 support he, in a great measure, attributed the success of fhe North Staffordshire 

 Hounds. He coupled with the toast the name of Mr. Kendrick, who always 

 rendered them such valuable assistance. (Applause.) 



Mr. Kendrick responded, thanking his brother tenant farmers for their help 

 in finding sport for the hounds. 



Other toasts followed, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. 



Brief as was Lord Shrewsbury's tenure of office as 

 Master, we ought not to close the record without a word 

 of grateful acknowledgment for the signal service he 

 rendered to the Hunt and to the fox-hunting fraternity 

 of North Staffordshire. The resignation and subsequent 

 death of Mr. Davenport in 1869 had found the country 

 unprepared with a successor, and but for the generous and 

 hearty manner in which Lord Shrewsbury threw himself 

 into the breach, and brought all the influence of his 

 personality and commanding position to bear in favour 

 of carrying on the Hunt with undiminished vigour and 

 prestige, matters might very easily have gone badly with 

 the North Stafford Hunt. As it was, the late Lord 

 Shrewsbury, in his large-hearted way, came to the front, 

 and at once and for ever saved the position ; and during 

 the time that he remained at the head of affairs — and, 

 indeed, for the rest of his too-short life — gave the Hunt 

 and the committee the benefit of his kindly and generous 

 help in every possible way. No one who remembers Lord 

 Shrewsbury can forget his kindness, and his breezy, 

 <jordial manner, which was the outcome of a warm heart. 

 No one was more anxious to promote good fellowship and 

 good feeling amongst his neighbours of every degree, no 

 one had a greater love for his own county, and no one 

 showed a more earnest desire to make his neighbours 

 happy. AVe have no doubt that his exertions on behalf 

 of the North Stafford Hunt were undertaken mainly 

 because he was persuaded that fox-hunting and a popular 

 pack of hounds make for good fellowship, and tend to 



